Audio content playback method and apparatus for portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An audio content playback method for a portable terminal. The audio content playback method includes checking a channel that is supportable by audio content that is currently engaged in group&#39;s simultaneous playback, in group&#39;s simultaneous playback of the audio content. The method includes allocating a channel to each of devices included in a group based on position information of each device included in the group or based on an input state in a user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group, and transmitting the allocated channel information to each device included in the group to allow the device to select its allocated channel and play the audio content.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/149,156 filed on Jan. 7, 2014 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(a) from Korean Patent Application Serial No. 10-2013-0001429, whichwas filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 7, 2013,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to playback of audio contents(for example, music files) of a portable terminal. More particularly,the present invention relates to a method and apparatus in whichmultiple portable terminals share single audio content and performgroup's simultaneous playback.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, electronic devices such as portable terminals are manufacturedto allow users to carry them around. Such portable terminals aresometimes embodied as smart phones, cellular phones, Portable MultimediaPlayers (PMPs), MP3 players, personal navigating devices, and portablegame consoles, and have provided functions of other terminals as well astheir own basic functions. In the case of cellular phones asrepresentative examples, various multimedia functions such as a TVviewing function, a music playback function, and a photographingfunction are provided in addition to general communication functionssuch as voice communication or message transmission/reception.

Recently, for communication between portable terminals or communicationbetween a portable terminal and another device such as a headset,portable terminals are now often equipped with modules for performing ashort-range communication function by using a short-range communicationscheme such as WiFi Direct, Near-Field Communication (NFC), orBluetooth. The portable terminals, which are equipped with suchshort-range communication modules, are constructed to perform contentsharing or interworking therebetween in a relatively short distance.

In particular, among the aforementioned functions, a function oftransmitting audio content (for example, an MP3 music file) stored in aportable terminal to its adjacent portable terminal through NFC forsharing and playback of the audio content has been proposed. An exampleof this conventional technique is disclosed in a Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0002310 filed by the present applicant on Jan.10, 2011, invented by Ji-Hwan Song, and titled “Contents ManagementMethod and Apparatus of Mobile Terminal”.

However, the aforementioned conventional technique merely provides abasic function of forming a group of adjacent devices and sharing andplaying audio content, and up to now, there is no scheme for providinggroup's simultaneous playback which is specialized or optimized foraudio content.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made to provide an audio content playbackmethod and apparatus for a portable terminal to provide group'ssimultaneous playback specialized or optimized for audio content.

Aspects of the present invention also provide an audio content playbackmethod and apparatus for a portable terminal to selectively play audiocontent depending on various schemes, thus providing users with pleasurein audio listening heretofore unknown.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anaudio content playback method for a portable terminal, the audio contentplayback method may include checking a channel that is supportable byaudio content that is currently engaged in a group's simultaneousplayback, in the group's simultaneous playback of the audio content,allocating a channel to each of devices included in the group based onposition information of each device included in the group or based on aninput state in a user interface environment that is preset for channelallocation for each device included in the group, and transmitting theallocated channel information to each device included in the group toallow the device to select its allocated channel and play the audiocontent.

The user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation foreach device included in the group may include, for example, menuselection items provided in advance to receive user's selection of achannel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channel ofthe audio content and sub- menu selection items for selecting a channelfor each device included in the group based on the supportable channelof the audio content.

The menu selection items provided in advance to receive user's selectionof a channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channelof the audio content may be displayed on a channel allocation mainscreen that is provided in advance for each channel allocation schemecorresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content, and onthe channel allocation main screen may be displayed by touch key inputitems provided in advance for each channel allocation schemecorresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content, and touchkey input items for checking a list of the devices included in the groupand channel allocation states of the devices included in the group.

On the channel allocation main screen, there may be further displayedtouch key input items provided in advance for each channel as at least apart of the sub-menu selection items for selecting a channel for eachdevice included in the group based on the supportable channel of theaudio content.

As a sub-menu of the touch key input item provided in advance for eachchannel, a list of the devices included in the group and channelallocation states of the devices may be displayed as touch key inputitems.

On the channel allocation main screen may be further displayed a touchkey input item provided in advance for automatic channel allocation.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of variousembodiments of the present invention will become better appreciated by aperson of ordinary skill in the art from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a portable terminalwhich performs audio content playback according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation of audio content playbackof a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation between devices for audiocontent playback of a portable terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates examples of user interface screens for channelallocation for each device when a sound source supports 2 channels inaudio content playback of a portable terminal according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates display screens in audio content playback of aportable terminal when the channel allocation states of the first andsecond devices are the left channel states (L) as on the screen ofoperation 416 illustrated in FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a touch input to the touch key input item “f” forchecking a list of all the devices included in the current groupaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates screens which are displayed if it is determined thatthe currently played sound source supports 5.1 channels after input ofthe touch key input item a provided in advance to perform the per-devicechannel allocation operation mode according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a 5.1-channel allocation main screen which isdisplayed like the screen of operation 450 displayed in case of touchinput of the touch key input item d for 5.1-channel allocation providedin advance in the upper portion of the screen of operation 412illustrated in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates comparative examples of user interface screens in amaster device and a channel-allocated device of a group according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates examples of user interface screens for initiatinggroup's simultaneous playback during music file playback.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist a person of ordinary skill in the art with acomprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the invention asdefined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes variousspecific details to assist in that understanding but these are to beregarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skilled inthe art will recognize that various changes and modifications of theembodiments described herein can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions ofwell-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity andconciseness when their inclusion could obscure an artisan's appreciationof the present invention.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of the presentinvention is provided for illustrative purposes only and the claimedinvention is not limited by the various embodiments shown and describedherein. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface”includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electronic devicewhich performs an audio content playback operation according to anembodiment of the present invention, in which for example, an audiocontent playback apparatus is a mobile communication terminal. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the audio content playback apparatus according tothe present invention includes a controller 10, a display 11, amanipulation unit 12, a storage unit 13, a mobile communication unit 14,an auxiliary communication unit 15, a position checking unit 16, and anaudio input/output unit 16.

The display 11 includes a screen typically constructed of a thin-filmtechnology, and can include, for example, typical Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) or Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) (for example, aPassive-Matrix OLED (PMOLED) or an Active-Matrix OLED (AMOLED)) screen,so that the display 11 displays execution images of various applicationprograms of the portable terminal, various operating states of theportable terminal, or menu states of the portable terminal, and may beimplemented integrally with a touch screen structure.

The manipulation unit 12 includes hardware such as, for example, a touchpad or touch screen associated with the display 11 and a touch screencontroller to receive various touch screen manipulation inputs such as atouch or “near-touch” within a certain detectable distance from thetouch screen, a drag, a flick, and multi-touches through a user's handtouch or an a touch using an electronic pen, and also includes buttonsfor multiple operations, which are mechanically provided in a keypad oran outer housing of a corresponding device to receive user'smanipulation inputs.

The mobile communication unit 14 performs a wireless signal processingoperation for a mobile communication function, and may include anantenna, a Radio Frequency (RF) unit, and a modem. The RF unit includesan RF transmitter for up-converting a frequency of a transmission signaland amplifying the transmitted signal and an RF receiver for low-noiseamplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency of thereceived signal, or a transceiver. The modem includes a transmitter forencoding and modulating the transmission signal and a receiver fordemodulating and decoding the received signal.

The auxiliary communication unit 15 includes a wireless Local AreaNetwork (LAN) processing module or a processing module for short-rangecommunication such as WiFi Direct, Near Field Communication (NFC), orBluetooth, and may be connected with the wireless Internet or wirelesslyperform short-range communication with neighboring devices in a placewhere a wireless Access Point (AP) is installed. As can be seen in FIG.1, the auxiliary communication unit also includes a transceiver, ortransmitter and receiver for short-range communication.

The position checking unit 16 includes circuitry for determining aposition, and can include, for example, a Global Positioning System(GPS) module for checking a local position of the portable terminal andgenerating location information. The audio input/output unit 17 includesa speaker, a microphone, and an audio codec for processing an audiosignal that is input via the microphone and output through the speaker,such that the audio input/output unit 17 receives a user's voice orother audible input, or outputs audible sound to the user during a phonecall based on mobile communication, and outputs processing soundcorresponding to various operations or sound corresponding to variousdigital audio contents or video contents.

The storage unit 13 comprises machine readable non-transitory storageand can store a program memory and data memories for storing variouscontents, various application programs and related contents, and datarelated to operation processing. The program memory stores a programcomprising machine executable code that is loaded into a processormicroprocessor for controlling a general operation of the portableterminal. The storage unit 13 may further store an operation program foraudio content playback according to characteristics of the presentinvention.

The controller 10, which includes circuitry such as a processor ormicroprocessor configured to control respective functional units thatcontrol the overall operation of the portable terminal, and thecontroller 10 switches and/or controls operations of the portableterminal according to a user input inputted through the manipulationunit 12. According to characteristics of the present invention, thecontroller 10 performs a group's simultaneous playback operation in anaudio content playback operation, and in particular, checks a channelsupported by audio content and separately allocates a correspondingchannel supported by corresponding audio content for each device of agroup automatically according to user's selection or a position of eachdevice in the group. The operations of the controller 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described in more detailherein below.

The portable terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be implemented by including the aforementioned components.In addition, the portable terminal may also include basic functionalunits applied to a typical mobile communication terminal, such as apower supply unit (for example, a charging battery), a GPS unit, avibration motor, and a motion sensor for detecting a motion state of theportable terminal, just to name a few non-limiting possibilities, andmay further include other functional units.

While the portable terminal has been described as the embodiment of theaudio content playback apparatus in FIG. 1, the audio content playbackapparatus according to the present invention may be a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA) or an MP3 player, and in this case, the audio contentplayback apparatus may not include the mobile communication unit 14illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an audio content playback operationof a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 2, the audio content playback operation may beperformed under control of the controller 10 of the portable terminalillustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the audio content playback operation accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may be additionally performedduring the group's simultaneous playback of audio content orsimultaneously with start of group's simultaneous playback.

At operation 200, in order to receive manipulation for selecting whetherto perform an operation according to characteristics of the presentinvention in which a selective channel for each device included in agroup is played back, the controller determines whether a selectiveplayback manipulation is input for each device included in the groupwith respect to menu selection items provided in advance to be displayedon a separate window, or menu selection items provided in advance astouch key input items on a screen. If the controller detects that themanipulation is input, the operation 202 is next performed.

At operation 202, in order to check a channel supportable by audiocontent currently engaged in group's simultaneous playback and receive aselection of a corresponding channel allocation scheme from the user, ascreen including menu selection items for multiple channel allocationschemes, which may be provided in advance as touch key input items, isdisplayed, and a manipulation of selection of a channel allocationscheme is input from the user on the screen.

At operation 202, the supportable channel of the audio content may be,for example, 2 channels, or 5.1 channels (e.g. Surround Sound) dependingon a sound source, such that menu selection items that may be providedin advance as touch key input items for receiving a selection of achannel allocation scheme from the user may be, for example, ‘2-channel’and ‘5.1-channel’ selection items. In this case, the respective menuselection items may be implemented to be displayed as active/inactivestates such that corresponding audio content may be differentlyindicated by distinguishable colors/shades according to channelssupportable by the audio content, allowing the user to easily select aproper item. Also in this case, the sub-menu items for channel selectionfor each device according to a channel supported by a sound source maybe directly displayed. For example, if a sound source supports 2channels, a menu item for 2-channel selection for each device may beadditionally displayed.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, anoperation of identifying a position of each device in a group andautomatically allocating a channel of each device according to theposition of the device may be further performed, and the menu selectionitems of operation 202 may further include, for example, a so-called‘auto channel allocation (Auto)’ menu item.

As such, once the supportable channel of the audio content is checkedand the corresponding channel allocation scheme is selected in operation202, then a channel is allocated for each device of the group accordingto the selected channel allocation scheme in operations 210, 220, and230.

More specifically, in operation 210, channels for devices are allocatedaccording to the 2-channel allocation scheme, in which a screenincluding menu input items implemented as, for example, touch key inputitems, for allocation of one of 2 channels for each device of a groupaccording to user's selection may be displayed and on the screen,channel allocation for each device is input from the user.

However, at operation 220, the channels for devices are allocatedaccording to the 5.1-channel allocation scheme, in which a screenincluding menu input items implemented as touch key input items forallocation of one of 5.1 channels for each device of the group accordingto user's selection may be displayed and on the screen, channelallocation for each device is input from the user.

At operation 230, a channel is automatically allocated according to asupportable channel of a sound source, such that the channel isautomatically allocated according to a position of each device in thegroup. For example, if a current sound source supports 2 channels, withrespect to a master device which currently provides the sound source andmanages channel allocation, a device located at a side may be allocatedwith a ‘left speaker’ channel and devices located at the other side maybe automatically allocated with ‘right speaker’ channel. The devicesincluded in the group provide information about their positions (forexample, GPS information) to the master device to allow the masterdevice to recognize in advance the positions of the devices included inthe group.

Once the channel is allocated for each device in operations 210, 220,and 230, then channel information allocated for each device istransmitted in operation 240. Thus, each device selects its allocatedchannel and plays corresponding audio content.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operations between devices for audiocontent playback of a portable terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, in which three devices (first through thirddevices 3060, 3070 and 3080) are connected with respect to a masterdevice 3050 which currently provides a sound source and manages channelallocation.

Referring now to FIG. 3, when the master device starts group'ssimultaneous playback of audio content in operation 300, a short-rangecommunication channel is formed between the master device and itsneighboring first, second and third devices 3060, 3070 and 3080 inoperation 310. The short-range communication channel may use acommunication scheme such as Wi-Fi Direct, Near-Field Communication(NFC), or Bluetooth. In this case, the master device 3050 may serve as amobile Access Point (AP) for connection.

Thereafter, in operations 321, 322, and 323, the neighboring devices(the first through third devices) may transmit their positioninformation to the master device.

In operation 330, group's simultaneous playback of the audio content isperformed. In this case, the master device 3050 serving as the mobile APmay provide the audio content to the connected devices in a group castmanner.

In operation 340, the master device 3050 performs channel allocation foreach device. Channel allocation for each device in operation 340 may beperformed in the same manner as channel allocation for each deviceillustrated in FIG. 2.

In operations 351, 352, and 353, the master device 3050 transmitschannel allocation information to each device 3060, 3070, 3080 includedin a group, and in operation 360, selective group's simultaneousplayback of audio content for each channel is performed. If the masterdevice 3050serving as the mobile AP provides the audio content to theconnected devices in a group cast manner, the master device 3050transmits channel allocation information to each device 3060, 3070, 3080in an NFC tagging scheme, such that each device included in each groupis provided with the channel allocation information in the NFC taggingscheme and plays the audio content in a corresponding channel. In thiscase, among devices included in a group, devices which are not providedwith the channel allocation information may play the audio content in abasic stereo manner.

Referring to the operations illustrated in FIG. 3 (and FIG. 2), forexample, the master device 3050 serves as the mobile AP and provides thesame sound source to other group members which access the same AP in thegroup cast manner, during which the master device allocates a detailedchannel to those other group members. Also in this case, the masterdevice 3050 recognizes positions of the other group members in itsvicinities, and properly allocates left/right speakers, or in the caseof surround sound, allocates the 5.1 channels to the group members. Suchoperations according to the present invention allow fine playback of thesound source and provide more various music sharing experiences tousers.

FIGS. 4 through 10 are diagrams illustrating display screens in an audiocontent playback of a portable terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates examples of user interface screens for channelallocation for each device when a sound source supports 2 channels.FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate examples of user interface screens in case ofmodifications or additions with respect to FIG. 4. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate examples of user interface screens for channel allocation foreach device when a sound source supports 5.1 channels (e.g., surroundsound). FIG. 9 illustrates comparative examples of user interfacescreens in a master device and a channel-allocated device of a group,and FIG. 10 illustrates examples of user interface screens forinitiating group's simultaneous playback during music file playback.

First, referring to FIG. 4, a screen of operation 410 is an initialscreen in which group's simultaneous playback (for example, a so-called‘music sharing’ function) of current audio content is performed.

On the initial screen of operation 410, if the user inputs, for example,a ‘tap’, a touch key input item “a” is provided in advance to perform aper-device channel allocation operation mode according tocharacteristics of the present invention, so-called ‘DJ mode’, a screenof operation 412 is displayed.

The screen of operation 412 is a 2-channel allocation main screen thatmay be displayed when the controller determines that a currently playedsound source supports 2 channels, such as left and right. On the screenof operation 412, a touch key input item “c” provided in advance for2-channel allocation, so-called ‘2 channel’ is displayed in an activestate in an upper portion and touch key input items “g” and “h” for leftchannel allocation and right channel allocation, so-called ‘Left’ and‘Right’ may be displayed in a center portion. On the screen of operation412, also in the upper portion, a touch key input item d for 5.1-channelallocation, so-called ‘5.1 channel’, and a touch key input item “e” forautomatic channel allocation, so-called ‘Auto’, may be provided.

In addition, a touch key input item “f” for checking a list of alldevices included in a current group (and channel allocation states ofall the devices included in the group) may be provided. Moreover, atouch key input item “b” merely performs a music sharing operationwithout allocating a channel for each device, so-called ‘Single SPK’ maybe provided in advance. If the user inputs (‘tap1’) the ‘Single SPK’touch key input item “b” on the screen of operation 412, per-devicechannel allocation is stopped to return to the screen of operation 410.

On the screen of operation 412, if the user inputs (‘tap 2’) the touchkey input item “g” for left-channel allocation, a screen of operation414 may be displayed. On the screen of operation 414, a list of thedevices included in the current group (and channel allocation states ofthe devices) is displayed as channel-selectable touch key input items,such that the user may select a desired device from among thecorresponding items to allocate a left channel to that the selecteddevice. On the screen of operation 414, all the devices included in thecurrent group (the first through third devices) are displayed as beingcurrently in a stereo state ('S′). On the screen of operation 414, forexample, the first device (Device 1) and the second device (Device 2)are input to the left channel. On the screen of operation 412, touch keyinput items “i and j” for confirmation and cancellation of channelallocation, so-called ‘Ok’ and ‘Cancel’ may be provided.

On a screen of operation 416, channel allocation states of the first andsecond devices are the left channel states (I′) according to user'sselection. In this state, the user may input the touch key input item“i” for confirmation of channel allocation. Thus, a screen of operation420 is displayed.

A screen of operation 420 corresponds to a 2-channel allocation mainscreen like the screen of operation 412, but within a display region ofthe left-channel touch key input item “g”, icons or items indicating thefirst and second devices to which the left channel is allocated areprovided.

On the screen of operation 420, for example, if the user inputs thetouch key input item “h” for right-channel allocation, a screen ofoperation 422 may be displayed. On the screen of operation 422, a listof devices included in a current group (and channel allocation states ofthe devices) may be displayed as channel-selectable touch key inputitems, like on the screen of operation 414, such that the user mayselect a desired device from among corresponding items to allocate theright channel to the selected device. On the screen of operation 422,among all the devices included in the current group (the first throughthird devices), the first device and the second device are currently ina left-channel allocated state (‘L’). On the screen of operation 422,for example, the (left-channel allocated) second device is input to theright channel again according to user's manipulation.

On a screen of operation 424, the channel allocation state of the seconddevice is changed to the right channel state (‘R’) according to user'sselection. In this state, the user may input the touch key input item ifor channel allocation confirmation. Thus, a correspondingly displayedscreen of operation 426 is a 2-channel allocation main screen like thescreen of operation 412, on which an indication indicating the firstdevice to which the left channel is currently allocated is included inthe display region of the left-channel touch key input item g, and anindication indicating the second device to which the right channel iscurrently allocated is included in the display region of the rightchannel touch key input item h.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 5, when the channel allocation states of the firstand second devices are the left channel states (‘L’) as on the screen ofoperation 416 illustrated in FIG. 4, touches are input to the first andthird devices.

In this case, on a screen of operation 432, the first device is changedback to the stereo state (‘S’) and the third device is allocated withthe left channel and thus is changed into the left-channel state (‘L’).In this state, if the user inputs the touch key input item “i” forconfirmation of channel allocation, a screen of operation 434 isdisplayed.

The screen of operation 434 corresponds to the 2-channel allocation mainscreen like the screen of operation 432, on which indications indicatingthe second and third devices to which the left channel is currentlyallocated are included in the display region of the left-channel touchkey input item g.

In FIG. 6, on a screen of operation 426 illustrated in FIG. 4, that is,on the 2-channel allocation main screen on which channel allocationstates of the first and second devices are the left channel state (‘L’)and the right channel state (‘R’), respectively, according to user'sselection, for example, a touch is input to the touch key input item “f”for checking a list of all the devices included in the current group.

In this case, as shown on a screen of operation 440, indicationsindicating a list of all the devices included in the current group and achannel allocation state for each device are displayed.

FIG. 7 illustrates screens which are displayed if it is determined thatthe currently played sound source supports 5.1 channels after input ofthe touch key input item a provided in advance to perform the per-devicechannel allocation operation mode, as shown on the screen of operation410 illustrated in FIG. 4 on which group's simultaneous playback ofcurrent audio content is performed.

In other words, the screen of operation 450 is a 5.1-channel allocationmain screen, in an upper portion of which the touch key input item “d”for 5.1-channel allocation is activated and in a center portion of whichthe touch key input items ‘Left’, ‘Surrounded Left’, ‘Woofer’,‘Surrounded Right’, and ‘Right’ are provided for 5.1-channel allocation.On the screen of operation 450, a scheme for per-device 5.1-channelallocation may be similar to selecting a corresponding touch key inputitem for each channel and allocating a channel for each device like inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates a 5.1-channel allocation main screen which isdisplayed like the screen of operation 450 displayed in case of touchinput of the touch key input item “d” for 5.1-channel allocationprovided in advance in the upper portion of the screen of operation 412illustrated in FIG. 4; in other words, the 2-channel allocation mainscreen. On the 5.1-channel allocation main screen, for example, if theuser selects a touch key input item “k” provided in advance forleft-channel allocation, a screen of operation 462 may be displayed. Onthe screen of operation 462, a list of devices included in the currentgroup (and channel allocation states of the devices) are displayed aschannel-selectable touch key input items, such that the user may selecta desired device from among corresponding items and allocate the leftchannel to the selected device. On the screen of operation 462, amongthe devices included in the current group (first through fifth devices),for example, the first device and the second device are selected andallocated with the left channel. Thereafter, on the screen of operation462, the channel allocation states of the selected first and seconddevices are the left-channel states (‘L’). Likewise, channel allocationfor each device may be performed for the other channels of the 5.1channels.

FIG. 9 illustrates comparative examples of user interface screens in themaster device and the channel-allocated device included in the groupaccording to the present invention, in which screens displayed on themaster device may be almost similar to those illustrated in FIG. 4. Thatis, in the master device, during music sharing as on the screen ofoperation 410, the 2-channel allocation main screen may be displayedlike the screen of operation 412 by user's manipulation, after which asshown on a screen of operation 470, for example, the left channel may beallocated to the first device, and then as shown on a screen ofoperation 472, a 2-channel allocation main screen may be displayed in astate where the left channel is allocated to the first device.

On the other hand, in the channel-allocated device included in thegroup, for example, in the first device, if the screen of operation 412is displayed in the master device, a screen of operation 480 isdisplayed to inform the user that the first device enters a per-channelallocation mode for each device with respect to a currently played soundsource, through a proper message or an indication. To this end, themaster device is configured to transmit in advance information regardinga corresponding operation state to the first device.

Thereafter, if the master device allocates the left channel to the firstdevice on a screen of operation 470, the first device displays a screenof operation 482 to inform the user of a channel (that is, the leftchannel) currently allocated thereto through a proper message. In thiscase, a touch key input item “m” for receiving additional confirmationfrom the user may be provided, and if there is a touch input withrespect to the item m from the user, the first device may operate in theleft-channel state. On a screen of operation 434, the first deviceinforms the user through a proper message that the first devicecurrently operates in the left-channel state.

FIG. 10 illustrates examples of user interface screens for initiating agroup's simultaneous playback during music file playback, in which asshown on the screen of operation 400, during playback of particularaudio contents (that is, music files), group's simultaneous playback(music sharing) may be selected in a menu selection environmentseparately provided in advance.

In this case, the screen of operation 402 is displayed to inform theuser of initiation of group's simultaneous playback of a currentlyplayed music file through a proper message. Thereafter, screens ofoperations 410 and 412, which are the same as those illustrated in FIG.4, may operate in the same manner as in FIG. 4.

As described above, the audio content playback method for the portableterminal according to the present invention may provide group'ssimultaneous playback specialized or optimized for audio content,provide more pleasure to users in audio listening, and make it possibleto selectively play audio content according to various schemes.

The present invention may be implemented according to variousembodiments of the present invention, and other embodiments may also beimplemented according to various modifications and changes of thepresent invention.

For example, in the foregoing embodiment, in general group'ssimultaneous playback of audio content and per-channel group'ssimultaneous playback for each device according to characteristics ofthe present invention, audio content playback for all devices includedin a group may coincide with each other, but it may also be possiblethat in general group's simultaneous playback, sharing of audio contentmay be merely performed and coincidence of playback may not beperformed. In per-channel group's simultaneous playback for each device,audio content may be transmitted in real-time streaming manner andplayback for the devices may accurately coincide with each other.

In the foregoing description, if a channel is allocated to each devicebased on 2 channels or 5.1 channels, the left or right channel is firstselected and then each device is selected. However, it is within thebreadth of the invention that each device may be first selected and thenone of multiple channels may be allocated to the selected device. Forexample, in a list item of devices, a selection item for allocation ofthe stereo channels, the left channel, and the right channel may beprovided in advance.

The above-described methods according to the present invention can beimplemented in hardware, firmware or via the execution of software orcomputer code that is stored on a non-transitory machine readable mediumsuch as a CD ROM, a RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or amagneto-optical disk or computer code downloaded over a networkoriginally stored on a remote recording medium or a non-transitorymachine readable medium and stored on a local non-transitory recordingmedium, so that the methods described herein are loaded into hardwaresuch as a general purpose computer, or a special processor or inprogrammable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would beunderstood in the art, the computer, the processor, microprocessorcontroller or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g.,RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computercode that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor orhardware implement the processing methods described herein. In addition,it would be recognized that when a general purpose computer accessescode for implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of thecode transforms the general purpose computer into a special purposecomputer for executing the processing shown herein. In addition, anartisan understands and appreciates that a “processor” or“microprocessor” constitutes hardware in the claimed invention. Underthe broadest reasonable interpretation, the appended claims constitutestatutory subject matter in compliance with 35 U.S.C. §101 and none ofthe elements constitute of software per se.

The terms “unit” or “module” as may be used herein is to be understoodas constituting or operating in conjunction with hardware such as acircuit, processor or microprocessor configured for a certain desiredfunctionality in accordance with statutory subject matter under 35U.S.C. §101 and such terms do not constitute software per se.

While the present invention has been particularly illustrated anddescribed with reference to certain embodiments thereof, variousmodifications or changes can be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention isnot limited to the described embodiments, should be defined by the scopeof the following claims and any equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio content playback method for a portableterminal, the audio content playback method comprising: checking by acontroller a group of devices engaged in simultaneous playback of theaudio content; allocating by the controller a channel of audio to eachof devices included in the group based on a position information of eachdevice included in the group or based on an input state in a userinterface environment that is preset for channel allocation for eachdevice included in the group; and displaying channel allocation statesfor the devices included in the group.
 2. The audio content playbackmethod of claim 1, wherein displaying the channel allocation states forthe devices included in the group comprises: separately displaying thedevices included in the group corresponding to the allocated channel. 3.The audio content playback method of claim 2, wherein separatelydisplaying the devices included in the group corresponding to theallocated channel comprises: displaying sub items for each channel; anddisplaying information of the devices currently allocated for eachchannel in the sub items.
 4. The audio content playback method of claim1, wherein a user interface environment that is preset for channelallocation for each device included in the group comprises: a pluralityof menu selection items provided in advance to receive selection of achannel allocation scheme corresponding to a supportable channel of theaudio content; and sub-menu selection items for selecting a channel foreach device included in the group based on the supportable channel ofthe audio content.
 5. The audio content playback method of claim 4,wherein information of the devices currently allocated for each channelis displayed on the sub-menu selection items.
 6. The audio contentplayback method of claim 4, further comprising displaying on a channelallocation main screen the menu selection items provided in advance toreceive selection of a channel allocation scheme corresponding to thesupportable channel of the audio content are displayed, in which thechannel allocation main screen that is provided in advance for eachchannel allocation scheme corresponds to the supportable channel of theaudio content, and additionally displaying on the channel allocationmain screen: a plurality of touch key input items provided in advancefor each channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportablechannel of the audio content; and touch key input items for checking alist of the devices included in the group and channel allocation statesof the devices included in the group.
 7. The audio content playbackmethod of claim 6, wherein on the channel allocation main screen areadditionally displayed touch key input items provided in advance foreach channel as at least a part of the sub-menu selection items forselecting a channel for each device included in the group based on thesupportable channel of the audio content.
 8. The audio content playbackmethod of claim 7, wherein, as a sub-menu of the touch key input itemprovided in advance for each channel, a list of the devices included inthe group and channel allocation states of the devices are displayed astouch key input items.
 9. The audio content playback method of claim 7,wherein additionally displaying on the channel allocation main screen atouch key input item provided in advance for automatic channelallocation.
 10. The audio content playback method of claim 7, whereinthe touch key input items provided in advance for each channel comprise‘Left’ and ‘Right’ corresponding to 2 channels or ‘Left’, ‘SurroundedLeft’, ‘Woofer’, ‘Surrounded Right’, and ‘Right’ corresponding to 5.1channels.
 11. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium havingrecorded thereon a program that is executed by a controller of aportable terminal to operate the audio content playback method ofclaim
 1. 12. A portable terminal comprising: a controller; a mobilecommunication unit configured to perform a wireless signal processingoperation for a mobile communication function; an auxiliarycommunication unit for short-range communication with a group ofdevices; an audio input/output unit receives an audible input, oroutputs audible sound; and a storage unit comprising having recordedthereon machine executable code that is executed by the controller forcontrolling playback of audio content playback operation by each deviceof a group of devices simultaneously, wherein the controller checks agroup of devices engaged in simultaneous playback of the audio content,allocates a channel of audio to each of devices included in the groupbased on a position information of each device included in the group orbased on an input state in a user interface environment that is presetfor channel allocation for each device included in the group; anddisplays channel allocation states for the devices included in thegroup.
 13. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein when thecontroller displays the channel allocation states for the devicesincluded in the group, the controller separately displays the devicesincluded in the group corresponding to the allocated channel.
 14. Theportable terminal of claim 13, wherein when the controller separatelydisplays the devices included in the group corresponding to theallocated channel, the controller displays sub items for each channeland displays information of the devices currently allocated for eachchannel in the sub items.
 15. The portable terminal of claim 12, whereina user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation foreach device included in the group comprises: a plurality of menuselection items provided in advance to receive selection of a channelallocation scheme corresponding to a supportable channel of the audiocontent; and sub-menu selection items for selecting a channel for eachdevice included in the group based on the supportable channel of theaudio content.
 16. The portable terminal of claim 15, whereininformation of the devices currently allocated for each channel isdisplayed on the sub-menu selection items.
 17. The portable terminal ofclaim 15, the controller further displays on a channel allocation mainscreen the menu selection items provided in advance to receive selectionof a channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channelof the audio content are displayed, in which the channel allocation mainscreen that is provided in advance for each channel allocation schemecorresponds to the supportable channel of the audio content, andadditionally displays on the channel allocation main screen: a pluralityof touch key input items provided in advance for each channel allocationscheme corresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content;and touch key input items for checking a list of the devices included inthe group and channel allocation states of the devices included in thegroup.
 18. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein on the channelallocation main screen are additionally displayed touch key input itemsprovided in advance for each channel as at least a part of the sub-menuselection items for selecting a channel for each device included in thegroup based on the supportable channel of the audio content.
 19. Theportable terminal of claim 18, wherein, as a sub-menu of the touch keyinput item provided in advance for each channel, a list of the devicesincluded in the group and channel allocation states of the devices aredisplayed as touch key input items.
 20. The portable terminal of claim18, wherein a touch key input item provided in advance for automaticchannel allocation is additionally displayed on the channel allocationmain screen.